Santa Wore Combat Boots Read Online Free

if the silence would swallow her up. From out the window, she could see the snow falling in big, fluffy flakes and for a moment she wished for Sarah’s innocence. This wouldn’t hurt so much if she was too young to understand.
    “Good, Lord, get a grip on yourself,” she scolded out loud before grabbing the bottle off the end table and heading toward the kitchen to open it. A large, tiger cat scampered in front of her and she almost tripped. “Jingles! One of these days I’m sending you to the animal shelter.”
    She stopped to glare at the old tom cat. Even though she threatened him at least several times a week, she knew in her heart she’d never get rid of him. Larry had brought him home from his first tour of duty. While the fat cat could be a pain in the butt sometimes, he was all about the family and patrolled the house like he owned the place. The kids adored him.
    “Meow.”
    “I suppose you want a treat? Well hop on up here and join me.” Emma tapped the stool and the cat jumped up. She poured herself a glass of red wine, and scattered a few pieces of dry cat food onto a napkin on the counter. “Cheers.”
    Looking around her kitchen, she noticed her mother had washed the dishes and picked up the countertops. A peek through the mudroom showed she’d even washed a couple loads of laundry. Typical Mom, couldn’t sit still once the kids were in bed. Emma didn’t realize she’d been gone that long, but she hadn’t told her mother about the medium. Traci was the only one who knew.
    “What am I going to do?” she asked the cat.
    The first glass of wine warmed her inside. She’d been so nervous about meeting Madame Zelda, she hadn’t been able to eat much throughout the day. Now her empty stomach protested against the incoming alcohol. Emma found the dinner plate her mother had left in the refrigerator and warmed it into the microwave. Soon, the smell of roasted chicken and herbed potatoes overpowered her senses.
    The cat meowed again, and she tossed him a small piece of chicken. Pouring just one more glass of wine, Emma sat at the table to enjoy her dinner. Even the wine wasn’t filling the huge hole in her heart, and after a few bites she didn’t want to eat anymore. She couldn’t give up yet. Larry was out there and she desperately needed him.
    Feeling restless, Emma searched for the page she’d ripped out of the phone book. They held the names of the remaining mediums in the surrounding areas. Her mother had done too good of a job cleaning up because her paper was gone. Panic rose in Emma’s throat as she flipped through the current mail and papers. The faded yellow page was nowhere to be found.
    Realizing her mother must have thrown it out she rushed to the back door not bothering to grab her coat. What if one of the other mediums was “the one”? She could be missing out on the only way to be with her husband again.
    “It has to be here.” She lifted the trash can lid and hauled out an over-stuffed plastic bag. Ripping it open, she dropped to the ground sifting through each paper, tossing pieces of garbage on the ground and back into the can. “Where is it? Where is it?” Her voice sounded almost hysterical and she looked to no avail.
    “Emma? What are you doing out here?” Jake tucked his hands under his armpits. “I thought for sure there was a raccoon scouring the neighborhood again.”
    “I have to find it,” she said through chattering teeth.
    “Find what? You don’t even have a coat on.” He peeled off his khaki sweater and draped it over her shoulders. “Why aren’t you doing this inside where it’s warm?”
    “I don’t want to wake the children. I have to find those numbers.” She wiped her forehead with the back of her wrist, pushing the hair out of her face. “It can’t be lost. I need them.” She paused and added under her breath, “I need him.”
    “Tell me what it is you’re looking for.” Jake knelt beside her. “Let me help before you freeze to